Tzu Chi Los Angeles Volunteers Pack Aid Container for Sierra Leone Orphanage in Holiday Giving Campaign
Ahead of Christmas, Tzu Chi volunteers in Los Angeles responded to the "Sending Love to Sierra Leone" campaign, packing donated children's clothing, medical supplies and sewing machines into a shipping container bound for an orphanage in Sierra Leone, Africa. According to Da Ai News, the effort collected nearly half a container of goods, which volunteers packed in scorching heat to send their love across the ocean.
Da Ai News reports that the full container included essential medical supplies, brand-new children's clothing and toys, and tools to help local women earn a living. Among the more distinctive donations were four professional sewing machines, several household sewing machines and a batch of fabrics provided by Xifu House. Volunteer Xia Jihuan said sewing machines and fabric are tools that local women rely on for their livelihood, and the effort aims to go beyond simply giving, helping recipients improve their lives through their own hands.
The head of the freight company handling the shipment also joined volunteers in the packing work. Freight company manager Zhu Limin said his own child attends a Tzu Chi school: "I thought that no matter what this order is like, I wanted to come and do my part to help. Because Tzu Chi has contributed so much to my child's education and growth, as an adult I should do what I can."
A group of Tzu Chi youth volunteers took charge of labeling the boxes. Youth volunteer Yu Ziqi said the experience made her truly realize how lucky she is to have so many advantages and resources, and that many people in the world are not like her. Parent Wei Jinhua, who joined the effort, said she learned gratitude and sharing from the experience, "doing my part to help many people."
On packing day, Los Angeles temperatures exceeded 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Volunteer Chen Jingdian said, "Many volunteers still maintained this enthusiasm and sense of mission to serve everyone. No matter how hot the weather was, everyone was happy doing their work." She added that knowing a group of children and women on the other side of the world would feel joy because of this gift, her heart felt at peace and cool.
(Source: Da Ai News, October 11)
Source: Da Ai News
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：位于台湾花莲的慈济静思精舍正门——慈济基金会发源地（资料图）。摄影：Video13，CC BY-SA 4.0，来源：Wikimedia Commons
